Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

Hide Quotations Hide Etymology

Abbreviations Cite this entry

About this entry:
First published 2002 (DOST Vol. XI).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Wan, Von, num. (adj.¹). Also: wane, uann. [Late ME and e.m.E. won (c1420), wan (1651). Chiefly late var. of Ane num. (adj.) and On(e num. (adj.).] a. num.One. Referring to a single member of a group. Also in telling the time. b. adj.One, a single. Also, wan a, one single; for wan thing and uther, for one thing and another. c. absol.a. 1601 Cal. Sc. P. XIII App. 1142.
I mad my man steil to me von of the sogers pokis vith pouder 1652 Aberd. Univ. Rev. XXXVI 121.
Wan of the neck clothes must be taken of[f] — 1669–81 Haddington Corr. 194.
Thursday, wan a cklokb. 1490 Irland Mir. I 73/9.
And alsua eftir that he be borne, he may be baptist, and wane a day eftir be slane 1615 Denmylne MSS in Highland P. III 186.
The religioun … is Popishe for thair is newer a minister in the wholle ille except wan poore man that the bishop did leaue heir 1642 Orkney Rentals iii 18.
His lands … payis for wan thing and vther, fyve or sixe hundreth pundis yeirlie c1666 Laing MSS 349.
Glencarn, Hom, Hertfild, etc. is all wan pie, and Selkreg and Ro. and Atholl, etc., is in an otherc. a1570-86 Maitl. F. 198/63.
O Jesu Chryst bayth God and man … O well of mercie that all was wane [: same, man, began] O lux beata trinitas 1581-1623 James VI Poems I 169/524.
The suoning uann & skunnering euill that skaillis conuentionis thikke